Landscaping Resources

Landscaping with native wildflowers and grasses improves the environment. Natural landscaping brings a taste of wilderness to urban, suburban, and corporate settings by attracting a variety of birds, butterflies and other animals. Once established, native plants do not need fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides or watering, thus benefiting the environment and reducing maintenance costs. Gardeners and admirers enjoy the variety of colors, shapes, and seasonal beauty of these plants.

There are a variety of ecosystems in the Great Lakes basin. Many of the plants found in these ecosystems can also thrive in your yard, on corporate and university campuses, in parks, golf courses and on road sides.
These native plants are attractive and benefit the environment. Many
native plant
seeds or seedlings are available from nurseries for landscaping. While
these native plants are yours to admire in the wild, they must remain
in their
natural setting to ensure that they can be enjoyed for generations to
come.

How to get started

Everyone can include native plants in their landscaping; from those with acres of land (e.g. corporations, universities), to those with small urban lots, to those protecting a pristine ecosystem during a construction project.
There are some tips to know how to get started and what to expect while your wild plants are taking root. And while natural prairies require fire for maintenance, mowing the native plants in your yard or next to buildings works just as well. There is a toolkit for local governments to promote the use of native plants - individuals may also find it useful! Be sure to read the wonderful law review article on municipal weed laws.

Case Studies

Native plants are beautiful, hardy and once established require
less maintenance than a conventional lawn. The native flowers and
grasses also function much like a natural system, with diverse plants
providing food and shelter for a host of birds, butterflies and
beneficial insects. Within the Great Lakes basin, and beyond, people
are incorporating native plants into their landscapes. There are successful examples of native landscaping at corporations,
universities, residences, schools, and other places.

Benefits

Landscaping with native plants improves the environment. Native plants are hardy because they have adapted to the local conditions. Once established, native plants do not need pesticides, fertilizers, or watering. Not only is this good for the environment, it saves time and money. A native landscape does not need to be mowed like a
conventional lawn. This reduces the demand for non-renewable resources and improves the water and air quality. The periodic burning (or mowing when burning is not practical) required for maintenance of a prairie landscape mimics the natural prairie cycle and is much better for the environment. Landscaping with native wildflowers and grasses helps return the area to a healthy ecosystem. Diverse varieties of birds, butterflies and animals, are attracted to the native plants, thus enhancing the biodiversity of the area. The beauty of native wildflowers and grasses creates a sense of place, both at home and work. The native plants increase our connection to nature, help educate our neighbors, and provide a beautiful, peaceful place to relax.

Reduced Use of Pesticides

Since native plants have adapted to local conditions, they are more resistant to pest problems. Sometimes individuals use non-persistent pesticides, which break down into harmless components, before sowing native plant seeds to minimize competition from the weeds. Once the native plants are established, pesticides are seldom needed.

Improved Air Quality

Native landscaping practices can help improve air quality on a
local regional and global level. Locally, smog (ground level ozone)
and air toxics can be drastically reduced by the virtual elimination
of the need for lawn maintenance equipment (lawn mowers, weed edgers,
leaf blowers, etc.) which is fueled by gasoline, electricity or
batteries. All of these fuel types are associated with the emissions
of the following air pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide
(CO2), nitrous oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2),
VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and air toxics such as benzene.
Gasoline lawn and garden equipment, on average, produces 5% of
ozone-forming VOCs in areas with smog problems. This equipment also
emits toxics and particulates.

Regionally, the NOx and SO2 released from
lawn maintenance equipment react with water in the atmosphere to form
acid rain.

Globally, native landscaping practices help to combat global
warming in two ways. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a major
greenhouse gas and by reducing the use of lawn maintenance equipment,
the associated CO2emissions are also reduced. Native plants
help to reduce the amount of CO2in the atmosphere by taking
in CO2and storing the carbon in the body of the plants,
roots and soil. Native plants work much better than traditional mowed
grass as a carbon sink due to their extensive root systems and
increased ability to retain and store water.

Improved Water Quality

In conventional landscaping, pesticides are often wrongly applied
at times when target insects are not vulnerable. Overuse and
inappropriate use often kill beneficial insects and other wildlife.
Less than 10% of all insects are harmful to plants. Pesticides have
the potential to cause serious human health problems when not handled
properly or applied according to the label directions. By eliminating
or minimizing the use of pesticides and fertilizers, these pollutants
will not run-off into streams, lake, and bays. This improves the
quality of the water and the aquatic life in it. In healthy water
systems. natural controls, such as fish, frogs, and snails will help
keep insect populations under control and reduce algae buildup.

EPA and Chicago Wilderness developed the awards to recognize outstanding efforts by corporations, park districts
and municipalities to use native plants in the landscape within the Chicago Wilderness region.

This conference explored the state of knowledge for quantifying the benefits of landscaping with native plants, with a focus on the Great Lakes basin ecosystem. We identified gaps in the current knowledge base, and definee future research priorities. Conference Summary and Identified Research Agenda

50 slides selected for their ability to define natural landscaping and explain its benefits, to illustrate applications of natural landscaping, and to demonstrate installation and management techniques.

The Seed Photo Project tracks a variety of native plants from first flower to seed. Information on each plant includes details on when to pick the seeds. This is intended to guide seed harvesting efforts for restoration, but can also be used in your own yard.

Sustainable Landscaping Slideshow

Learn about the environmental impacts of traditional landscaping and alternatives such as using native plants in the landscape. This presentation was developed as part of the Smithsonian Institution's Horticultural Services Division winter in-service training program.